Solar panels at the photovoltaic plant in Mozambique

Capital and expertise from Scatec Solar, KLP and Norfund enabled the construction of Mozambique's first large-scale solar power plant. Central Solar de Mocuba (CESOM) provides over 79 GWh of electricity annually, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of more than 170,000 households in Mozambique.

Future tenders are expected to be announced in Q4 of 2023, including the selection of two independent power producers for two 30 MW solar photovoltaic power plants and one 50 MW wind power plant. But Mozambique has an enormous challenge that spreads far beyond where the national grid ends.

In a new monthly column for <b>pv magazine</b>, SolarPower Europe describes how Mozambique may take full advantage of its huge solar potential by implementing its recently launched Renewable Energy Auctions Programme for large-scale projects, while also pushing for more off-grid renewables in remote areas.

The first tender under the programme was the Dondo solar power plant which was won by Independent Power Producer (IPP), Total Eren (now acquired by Total Energies), with a tariff of $52.45/MWh, and is supported by Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and the French Development Agency (AFD).

The plant was built in the Zambezia Province in north-central Mozambique. Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world and access to electricity is extremely limited. In rural areas only 6 percent of the population has an electricity supply. National demand for electricity is growing significantly due to industrial and commercial growth.

The project's strategic location will reduce energy transmission losses and improve the security of energy supply in northern Mozambique and stabilize the grid. It is estimated that the power plant's connection to the EDM grid will result in a seven percent improvement in the network default level.